Prelude to a Witch, Amanda Lee [ebook reader web txt] 📗

You’re a bad person. I saw that in your head at Hollow Creek that night. You’re lucky we let you off as easily as we did.”

“What could you have done to me that was worse?” she demanded.

“We could’ve killed you.” Even I was surprised at how chilling my voice sounded.

Amelia swallowed hard. “We didn’t do anything.”

“You hurt Marcus,” Landon shot back. “You tried to hurt Bay and her family. You were going to hurt your own families. You’re not some innocent teenager playing harmless games with her friends, so stop acting like you are.”

Amelia’s lower lip jutted out. “I just want to live my life.”

“Actions have consequences,” Landon argued. “You hurt people. You tried to paint yourself as a victim when you were behind everything. You wanted to position Todd Lipscomb as your sacrificial lamb, which would’ve ruined his life.”

“He’s a pervert. I don’t care about protecting perverts.”

“And I don’t care about protecting sociopaths,” Landon seethed. “I would’ve been fine if they ended you at that creek. Bay wasn’t okay with it, though. You owe your life to her.”

“I don’t owe her anything.” Amelia crossed her arms over her chest, defiant. “She ruined my life. She messed with my mind. As soon as I figure out a way to make her pay, I will.”

“Does that mean you have nothing to do with the shade problem now?” I demanded.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Amelia growled. “Why would I care about curtains?”

My stomach clenched as I studied her closer. “She’s not possessed, and I don’t know that she’s part of this.”

“We saw her,” Landon insisted. “She was watching when you were attacked yesterday. She had to be part of it. There’s no other explanation.”

There was one other explanation. “She was drawn by the magic.” I understood at least part of it now. “You sensed the darkness in the shades. You’ve also been spying on us, maybe going so far as to visit the inn.”

“You took my magic,” Amelia hissed.

I chuckled. “You took magic that didn’t belong to you and used it to harm people. That magic was never yours. It always belonged to us.”

“It was mine,” Amelia insisted. “I was going to use it to get out of this stupid town. You made sure that wouldn’t happen. You ruined my life.”

“I’m pretty sure you did that to yourself,” Landon shot back. “You’re the villain in this story. Bay is the hero. I don’t feel sorry for you.”

“Even though she raped my mind?”

I hated that she used that word. “I did what I thought was right. You were a danger, to yourself and this community. I’m not sorry for stripping your powers or modifying your memory. I am curious, however, about how you managed to overcome the spell.”

“I’m not sure. It started with nightmares — that very first night — and then I started having them during the day,” Amelia explained. “It was like a wall coming down. If I fought hard enough, I could see more ... and more and more. Eventually the entire wall came crumbling down.”

Landon focused on me. “Is that possible?”

“I think anything is possible. She was stronger than the rest. We knew that from the start. I should’ve dosed her harder.”

“I won’t let you do it again,” Amelia warned, extending a finger. “I won’t let you change who I am again.”

I wasn’t certain it would be necessary. Amelia alone wasn’t strong enough to topple us. “Do the others remember?”

“No, and I’ve tried to jog their memories. They’re completely useless. Zombies.”

“That’s why you pretend to be disengaged, too,” I said. “You’re following their lead.” I really had changed them, I realized. Amelia had been faking, but the others were really that disassociated from their lives. “You wanted to hide among them. You slipped up a few times when we were visiting.”

“Yeah, and I’m not happy about it.” Amelia shook her head, as if collecting herself. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to get revenge on you and your entire family, especially that crazy old lady.”

That nudged a smile out of me. “If you want to take on Aunt Tillie, that’s up to you. You won’t win. I would think you would’ve figured that out by now.”

“I’m not afraid of her.”

That was bold talk, the sort of which I didn’t believe. It didn’t matter, though. All I cared about for today’s purposes was the fact that Amelia wasn’t involved with the shades. She was a problem, but one for a different day.

“I look forward to your attempt. For now, you should know that it’s not wise to run your mouth. You should keep what you know to yourself.”

“And if I don’t?”

“No one will believe you ... but Aunt Tillie will go after you.”

“I’m not afraid of her.”

“Then you’re dumber than you look.”

25

Twenty-Five

“She’s dangerous.” Landon stopped at a festival kiosk for iced teas and then directed me to a table at the outskirts of the action.

“She is dangerous,” I agreed. There was no reason to pretend otherwise. “She’s also scared.”

“Of what?”

“Me.”

Landon held my gaze for a moment and then broke into a wide grin. “My badass future wife is terrorizing the town’s teenagers. I love it.”

I shot him a dubious look. “I’m not Aunt Tillie.”

“No, but you’re powerful, Bay. Amelia knows that.”

“But she might not care.” I glanced to where she still stood across the street, her back to Mrs. Little’s shop and glaring at us.

“I think she cares.” Landon said, looking at Amelia. “Do you think she remembers all of it?”

“I do, and that’s the problem. The girls splintered over their memories. Amelia doesn’t care about Sophia and Emma. She can control them. Paisley was more apt to resist.”

“Do you think she killed Paisley?”

My initial reaction was to dismiss the possibility outright. Then I reconsidered. “I just ... don’t know.”

He patted my hand and sipped his iced tea. He glanced over when Chief Terry approached us. “Is something wrong?”

One look at Chief Terry’s face told me that he was indeed concerned about something.